Fundamental and applied investigations in plasma-source mass spectrometry for elemental analysis

The current status of plasma source-mass spectrometry (PS-MS) is reviewed. An overview of interference effects that exist, alternative plasma sources available, and mass spectrometer interface studies is provided. A discussion of current and future development areas in plasma source mass spectrometry is also included.     

Glycan side chains on naturally presented MHC class II ligands

The molecular characterization of unknown naturally presented major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II glycopeptides carrying complex glycans has so far not been achieved, reflecting the different fragmentation characteristics of sugars and peptides in mass spectrometric analysis. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR-bound peptides were isolated by affinity purification, separated via high performance liquid chromatography and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We were able to identify two naturally processed MHC class II ligands, CD53(122-136) and CD53(121-136), carrying complex N-linked glycan side chains by a combination of in-source and collision-induced fragmentation on a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer.     

Probing the Effects of Reagent Gas Pressure and Ion Source Temperature for Dimethyl Ether Chemical Ionization of Tricyclic Antidepressants in an External Source Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

This study examines the reagent gas pressure and ion source temperature dependence for dimethyl ether chemical ionization (DME CI) mass spectra recorded with an external source ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS). Information for better controls of the reagent gas pressure in order to obtain fair CI spectra is provided. The origin of M^+? ions observed in DME CIMS is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the ion source temperature effect on the DME CI is also investigated.     

Determination of aluminum in highly concentrated iron samples: Study of interferences using high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry

High-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS) has been used to investigate spectral and non-spectral interferences found with a conventional line source atomic absorption spectrometer in the determination of aluminum in pharmaceutical products containing elevated iron and sugar concentrations. A transversely heated graphite furnace was used as the atomizer in both spectrometers. The two most sensitive aluminum lines at 309.3 nm and 396.2 nm were investigated and it was found that an iron absorption line at 309.278 nm, in the vicinity of the aluminum line at 309.271 nm, could be responsible for some spectral interference. The simultaneous presence of iron and the organic components of the matrix were responsible for radiation scattering, causing high continuous and also structured background absorption at both wavelengths. The aluminum and iron absorption could not be separated in time, i.e., the iron interference could not be eliminated by optimizing the graphite furnace temperature program. However, an interference-free determination of aluminum was possible carrying out the measurements with HR-CS AAS at 396.152 nm after applying least squares background correction for the elimination of the structured background. Analytical working range and other figures of merit were determined and are presented for both wavelengths using peak volume registration (center pixel ± 1) and the center pixel only. Limits of detection and characteristic masses ranged from 1.1 to 2.5 pg and 13 to 43 pg, respectively. The method was used for the determination of the aluminum contamination in pharmaceutical formulations for iron deficiency treatment, which present iron concentrations from 10 to 50 g l^− 1. Spike recoveries from 89% to 105% show that the proposed method can be satisfactorily used for the quality control of these formulations.     

Pulsed,Crossed, Supersonic Molecular Beam Studies of Refractory Atom Reactions

Dynamics of refractory atom reactions have been studied with a crossed beam apparatus combining two pulsed, supersonic molecular beam sources, a pulsed UV laser for creating the refractory atoms in the gas phase by laser ablation, and a pulsed dye laser to probe the reaction products by laser-induced fluorescence. Examples of the A1(²P_j) + O₂(X³∑_g)→ A10(X²∑⁺) + O(³P_j), Mg(¹S_o) + N₂O(X¹∑⁺) → MgO(X¹∑⁺,a³Π) + N₂(X¹∑_g⁺) andC(³P_j) + NO(X²Π_r) → CN(X²∑⁺) + 0(³P_j) systems are given. Comparisons with the studies performed using the conventional steady-state beam approach are made.     

Assessment of various carbon sources and nutrient feeding strategies for Panax ginseng cell culture

Ginseng (root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) cells were cultivated on medium supplemented with various carbohydrates including sucrose, glucose, and fructose, at initial concentrations ranging from 10 to 110 g/L. Sucrose was shown to be the superior carbon source to the monosaccharides for ginseng cell growth and the optimal concentration was between 30 and 50 g/L. An increase in the initial concentration within this range increased the maximum cell density and growth index significantly, whereas much higher concentrations inhibited cell growth. Feeding of sucrose and some other medium components during the growth (fed-batch mode) was more effective in enhancing the cell growth and biomass productivity, increasing the growth index by more than 60–70% and biomass productivity by more than 50%.     

Pd-catalyzed reduction of aryl halides using dimethylformamide as the hydride source

The Pd-catalyzed homocoupling of aryl halides in a basic DMF solution is often accompanied by the dehalogenation of the substrate as side reaction. When an inorganic base such as sodium bicarbonate is used, the reducing role of the solvent has been demonstrated using DMF-d₇ and GC/MS analysis.     

硅源量和晶化时间对SAPO-34分子筛结构和性能的影响

以吗啡啉为模板剂合成了SAPO-34分子筛，研究了晶化液SiO₂/Al₂O₃比(硅源量)的影响。当SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ≥ 0.6时，能合成出纯净的SAPO-34分子筛;SiO₂/Al₂O₃=1.0时，分子筛骨架中出现“硅岛”结构，此时合成的分子筛样品具有最高的(乙烯+丙烯)选择性。继续增大硅铝比对(乙烯+丙烯     

A study for quality evaluation of Taxilli Herba from different hosts based on fingerprint-activity relationship modeling and multivariate statistical analysis

In this study, a fingerprint-activity relationship modeling between chemical fingerprints and antirheumatic activity was established, and multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Taxilli Herba (TH) from different hosts. Characteristic fingerprints of 20 batches of TH samples were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS), and the similarity analysis was calculated based on thirteen common characteristic peaks by hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). Subsequently, nine efficacy markers were discovered by combining fingerprints and antirheumatic activity through grey correlation analysis (GCA) and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA). Meanwhile, the content of 5 constituents in 9 markers was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). The comprehensive quality of TH was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis, including principal components analysis (PCA) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that a high dose of TH extract could markedly ameliorate arthritis damage compared to other doses, with flavonoids playing an important role in the antirheumatic activity. The comprehensive quality of samples from Morus alba L. (SS) was superior to those from Liquidambar formosana Hance (FXS). The present study will demonstrate the markers associated with efficacy, and provide an applicable strategy for more comprehensive quality control and evaluation of TH.     

ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF ARTIFICIALLY HEATED SPHAGNUM COAL CONSIDERED AS POSSIBLE SOURCE ROCK FOR OIL AND GAS

A preliminary study of simulated thermal maturity has been conducted to evaluate the oil, gas and hydrocarbon generation potential of sphagnum coal in the Jinsuo brown coal basin, Yunnan Province and to understand the characteristics of the element composition and biomarkers in the course of thermal alteration. The experimental result was compared with that of xylitic coal, a kind of lithotype of soft brown coal. It is considered that sphagnum coal possesses the potential of forming economic accumulation of oil and gas. Its highest proportion of oil and hydrocarbon generation is 510 mg/g Corg. and 232.1 mg/g Corg. respectively. At an R_(ran)~° value of 2.51%, the ratio of gas generation from sphagnum coal attains to 620.5 ml/g Corg. In view of sphagnum coal being different from the conventional soft brown coal in various respects such as coal forming raw materials and enviroments as well as physico-chemical properties, it is Suggested as a special kind of source rock for coal-generated oil and gas.